appraiser institute Blog Posts

The Network of State Appraiser Organizations has prepared a letter to Melvin L. Watt, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), addressing the concerns appraisers they represent have with FNMA's Collateral Underwriter (CU) program. The Organizations' stance is that since the data is originated and collected primarily through appraisal reports it should be made available to appraisers in addition to lenders, mortgage companies, and AMCs. We agree.

Between accepting assignments, working with clients, and preparing reports, finding time to meet your state’s continuing education requirements can be a real hassle. However, keeping your license current and in good standing is a must for any real estate professional.

To say that there has been an enormous change in the real estate industry over the last few years is an understatement. Appraisers have taken most of the fall for the housing crisis, and continue to experience the effects of the fallout. Here are five critical issues that will continue to impact our industry if we don’t take a stand and fight back now.

The latest and greatest technology may be a boon to your home inspection business, but it’s likely not covered by your E&O carrier. While tech advances quickly for inspectors, insurance companies have yet to catch up and therefore may not offer appropriate levels of coverage just yet.

On May 23, 2014, the Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District, Division One, State of California, issued a very interesting decision on whether a plaintiff can successfully plead and argue fraud based on comments made about the concluded value of real estate that was appraised. The case is Graham V. Bank of America, N.A., et al. Although this ruling is unquestionably useful for an appraiser being accused of appraisal fraud, it probably is not the magic elixir many will proclaim it to be.

Whether in the field or at the office, there’s much at stake every day. Yet, many of us continue to overlook the importance of professional liability insurance.

Commonly known as errors and omissions - or E&O - insurance, these policies are designed to protect you against legal recourse should a lawsuit be filed against you. However, not all policies are created equally, and premiums are continually on the rise. So what’s the story behind these additional costs?

When it comes to real estate, risk is the name of the game. While it’s impossible to predict the future, there are steps you can take to prevent or defend against lawsuits brought about by errors and omissions made during the delivery of your services. Today, we’ll show you why taking a proactive approach to mitigating your risk matters so much.

With mortgage rates hitting new lows, more consumers are seeking to take advantage of a good thing and either buy or refinance homes. More consumer interest means appraisers will be called upon more to deliver property valuations.

While more work requests is always a good problem to have, there are some side effects to bear in mind next time you're in the field....

Appraisers are running for the exits, with many moving into Ad Valorem, and some into cost estimating. Client accounts you thought were safe have been converted to ether and dispersed among a dark refinancing void.

In This Episode - Earlier this year, Fannie Mae announced the launch of its Appraiser Quality Monitoring system, or AQM. Essentially, the AQM is a government-derived type of system that monitors the quality and consistency of your appraisal reports. With this system in place, the agencies will be able to determine whether your work requires consistent, ongoing review or if you will end up on government-level “do not use” list.